Externship in Graz, Austria: Research Opportunities

Externship in Graz, Austria: Research Opportunities

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and the Medical University of Graz, Austria (MUG) formed a unique externship opportunity. The opportunity is only awarded to two undergraduate students at NSU annually. The six week externship in 2010 consisted of two research opportunities. The first experiment consists of studying the effects of different preservation methods on pig liver explantations and the second studies the impact of Sanopal on Cyclosporin-A induced nephropathy in rats. Prior to beginning the research we underwent training in the different techniques involved in each experiment as well as the ethical situations faced when conducting the experiments. The techniques we trained to utilize included injection, phlebotomies, anesthetizing, suturing, and cauterizing blood vessels. After training in the basics we assisted in several pig liver explantations which are very similar to a human liver transplant. With the guidance and preparation given to us through training and practice we were allowed to continue the experiments on our own with some supervision by our mentors. In addition, we led a pig liver explantation with our mentor as our assistant. Altogether, the countless experiences in these research opportunities were enlightening.